Dahlia

Dahlia 'Dahlstar Sunset Pink'

Description

A natural orange dye obtained from any dahlia flowers, stems, and leaves (Dahlia sp.). Single color dahlia flower petals produce a clearer, brighter tone, than when varying colors and leaves are mixed. On wool with a chrome mordant, yellow dahlia flower petals give a strong orange color that has fair lightfastness. Other colors from yellow to yellow-green (copper mordant) can also be obtained. Dahlia flowers do not dye cotton well and are not lightfast when mordanted with alum. The colorant from dahlia flowers is an acid-base indicator dye that has been used to color test papers. It turns red with acids and green with alkalis.

Authority

• R.J. Adrosko, Natural Dyes in the United States, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1968

• E.J.LaBarre, Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Paper and Paper-making, Swets & Zeitlinger, Amsterdam, 1969

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Dahlia." Encyclopædia Britannica. 13 Nov. 2004 .

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahlia